Kim Kardashian breaks the net once again
Backlash over recent selfie poses questions regarding female empowerment in the 21st century .
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Kim Kardashian took a nude selfie and uploaded it on Instagram. She received backlash as a result of this from the likes of Bette Midler who tweeted: “If Kim Kardashian wants us to see a part of her we’ve never seen, she’s gonna have to swallow the camera.”
Chloe Grace Moretz tweeted: “@kimkardashian I truly hope you realise how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than our bodies.”
On the other hand, Demi Lovato posted a picture on Instagram with the caption: “Nudity empowers some. Modesty empowers some.”
All these criticisms in the Twittersphere pose different questions regarding female empowerment. Although some may criticise Kim Kardashian, there is no doubt about it that her posing nude is her showing that she is comfortable in her own skin.
When you’re like I have nothing to wear LOL
Arguably her being able to express herself in this way is a form of female empowerment in the 21st century, given that women previously were not able to express themselves in this way at all, especially publicly. A woman is in control of her body so surely as Kim Kardashian should not be shamed for showing that she is indeed in control.
These recent turn of events has made it clear that there is a double standard towards women and amongst women between one another. Kim Kardashian is scrutinised for freely expressing herself on Instagram whereas when Rihanna wore her Adam Selman dress in 2014, two years ago with her body and nipples prominently on show, it was seen as a powerful feminist statement. In addition to this, in the past year, the movement ‘free the nipple’ has dominated social media. It’s clear that forms of expressing oneself freely is only acceptable to a certain extent and by certain people.
In light of women everywhere, we should be respecting each other and one another’s views and choices rather than publicly shaming. And more so, we should be praising the achievements of women as a whole rather than criticising.
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
– Audre Lorde
